A n i m a l     D e m o g r a p h y     U n i t

 
Dr Jessica Kemper

Thesis: Heading towards extinction? Demography of the African Penguin in Namibia
Email: jkemper [at] mfmr [dot] gov [dot] na

PhD, University of Cape Town

Qualifications and experience

After growing up in five countries on five continents (Argentina, Japan, Germany, the USA and South Africa), I obtained my BSc and BSc(Hons) (Zoology) degrees at the University of the Witwatersrand (1989-1993). Shortly after completing my MSc degree in Botany in 1997 at the Institute for Plant Conservation at the University of Cape Town, the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board contracted me for four months to monitor African Penguins on Dassen Island. There I made the (perhaps subjective) discovery that penguins are infinitely more charismatic than renosterbos shrubs. Despite this realization, I took up a one-year post as a conservation officer at the Botanical Society of South Africa during 1998, primarily to investigate incentives for private land owners to conserve threatened ecosystems, but spent much of my spare time helping to rehabilitate seabirds at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB).

While assisting with monitoring birds on Mercury Island in Namibia during 1999, I noticed that little of the data collected on penguins in Namibia had been evaluated. As a result, demographic parameter estimates for the regional population of African Penguins in Namibia were lacking, preventing the reliable estimation of population trends or an understanding of the causal factors behind trends. This recognition gave rise to my PhD project, entitled “Heading towards extinction? Demography of the African Penguin in Namibia”. For the duration of the project, I was based in the remote, sandy and windswept coastal town of Lüderitz, Namibia. My fieldwork was on Halifax Island, which I usually accessed by paddle-ski, but I also collated the huge volume of data gathered over several decades by Namibian island staff. My thesis provides estimates for a range of demographic parameters for African Penguins in Namibia (which, in part, differ substantially from those for the South African penguin population) and assesses the accuracy and suitability of various monitoring techniques used to obtain them.

Between 2005 and 2007, I coordinated the Seabird Task Group of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) project on “Top Predators as Indicators of Ecosystem Change in the BCLME”. Since February 2008 I have been employed by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) in Namibia as a senior biologist and head of the Seabird Section. I am still based in Lüderitz, continue to paddle occasionally to Halifax Island and am responsible for the (conservation) management of all seabirds and islands in Namibia. I also run MFMR’s Seabird Rehabilitation Centre and coordinate seabird rescue and rehabilitation efforts. During the last year, I have been much involved in developing a proposal for the proclamation for Namibia’s first Marine Protected Area, which encompasses all seabird breeding islands.

(Research) interests

Much of my research and management activities focus on monitoring population trends and improving the conservation status of seabirds breeding and / or foraging in Namibia, as well as to develop ecosystem health indices based on seabird population parameters. Research also includes aspects of seabird foraging ecology, including the identification of important seabird foraging areas and habitats in Namibia, foraging behaviour and diet (and its temporal and spatial variability), particularly to assess seabird conservation needs and to investigate food chain dynamics and shifts in ecosystem functioning in the Northern Benguela. This work is mainly done in collaboration with other sections at MFMR, Dr K. Ludynia and the Animal Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town.

My favourite pastimes include taking my dogs for daily walks in the Namib desert, being with my family, indulging in a fine cup of Earl Grey tea, and following a thrilling 5-day cricket match; my ultimate pet hate is any form of pollution.

Publications

1. Papers in refereed journals

• Kemper, J., Roux, J-P. and Underhill, L.G. In press. Effect of age and breeding status on molt phenology of adult African Penguins in Namibia. Auk.
• Crawford, R.J.M., Dyer, B.M., Kemper, J., Simmons, R.E. and Upfold, L. 2007. Trends in numbers of Cape cormorants (Phalacrocorax capensis) over a 50-year period, 1956/57–2006/7. Emu 107: 1-9.
• Crawford, R.J.M., Hemming, M., Kemper, J., Klages, N.T.W., Randall, R.M., Underhill, L.G., Venter, A.D., Ward, V.L. and Wolfaardt, A.C. 2006. Molt of the African Penguin Spheniscus demersus in relation to its breeding season and food availability. Acta Zoologica Sinica 52: S444-S447.
• Kemper, J. and Roux, J-P. 2005. Of squeezers and skippers: factors determining the age at moult of immature African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus) in Namibia. Ibis 147: 346-352.
• Whittington, P.A., Klages, N., Crawford, R., Wolfaardt, A. and Kemper, J. 2005. Age at first breeding of the African Penguin. Ostrich 76: 14-20.
• Simmons, R.E. and Kemper, J. 2003. Cave breeding by African Penguins near the northern extreme of their range: Sylvia Hill, Namibia. Ostrich 74: 217-221.
• Bartlett, P.A., Roux,J-P., Jones, R. and Kemper, J. 2003. A new mainland breeding locality for African Penguins, Bank and Crowned Cormorants on the Namib desert coast. Ostrich 74: 222-225.
• Roux, J-P., Kemper, J., Bartlett, P.A., Dyer, B.M. and Dundee, B.L. 2003. African Penguin Spheniscus demersus recolonise a formerly abandoned nesting locality in Namibia. Marine Ornithology 31: 203-205.
• Crawford, R.J.M., David, J.H.M., Shannon, L.J., Kemper, J., Klages, N.T.W., Roux, J-P., Ward, V.L., Williams, A.J. and Wolfaardt, A.C. 2001. African penguins as predators and prey – coping (or not) with change. South African Journal of marine Science 23: 435-447.
• Donaldson, J.S., Nänni, I., Zachariades, C. and Kemper, J. 2002. Effects of habitat fragmentation on pollinator diversity and plant reproductive success in renosterveld shrublands of South Africa. Conservation Biology 16(5): 1267-1276.
• Kemper, J., Roux J-P., Bartlett, P.A., Chesselet, Y.J., James, J.A.C., Jones, R., Wepener, S. and Molloy, F.J. 2001. Recent population trends of African penguins Spheniscus demersus in Namibia. South African Journal of marine Science 23: 429-434.
• Kemper, J., Cowling, R.M., Richardson, D.M., Forsyth, G.G. & McKelly, D.H. 2000. Landscape fragmentation in South Coast Renosterveld, South Africa, in relation to rainfall and topography. Austral Ecology 25(2): 179-186.
• Underhill, L.G., Kemper, J., Whittington, P.A. and Wolfaardt, A.C. 2000. Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiacus moulting on Dassen Island, South Africa. Marine Ornithology 28(2): 121-122.
• Kemper, J., Cowling, R.M. & Richardson, D.M. 1999. Fragmentation of South African renosterveld shrublands: effects on plant community structure and conservation implications. Biological Conservation 90: 103-111.
• Higgins, S.I., Rogers, K.H. & Kemper, J. 1997. A description of the functional vegetation pattern of a semi-arid floodplain, South Africa. Plant Ecology 129(1): 1-10.

2. Reports / chapters

• Kemper, J. In press. Cape Gannet. In: Simmons, R.E. and Brown, C.J. (eds), Birds to watch in Namibia: red, rare and peripheral species. National Biodiversity Programme, Windhoek, Namibia.
• Kemper, J. In press. Crowned Cormorant. In: Simmons, R.E. and Brown, C.J. (eds), Birds to watch in Namibia: red, rare and peripheral species. National Biodiversity Programme, Windhoek, Namibia.
• Kemper, J. In press. African Penguin. In: Simmons, R.E. and Brown, C.J. (eds), Birds to watch in Namibia: red, rare and peripheral species. National Biodiversity Programme, Windhoek, Namibia.
• Roux, J-P. and Kemper, J. In press. Bank Cormorant. In: Simmons, R.E. and Brown, C.J. (eds), Birds to watch in Namibia: red, rare and peripheral species. National Biodiversity Programme, Windhoek, Namibia.
• Currie, H., Grobler, C.A.F. and Kemper, J. (eds.) 2008. Namibian Islands’ Marine Protected Area. Concept note, background document and management proposal for the declaration of Marine Protected Areas on and around the Namibian offshore islands and adjacent coastal area. Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Namibia.
• Kemper, J., Braby, J., Dyer, B.M., James, J., Jones, R., Ludynia, K., Mullers, R., Roux, J-P., Underhill, L.G. and Wolfaardt, A.C. 2007. Monitoring seabirds in the BCLME: data collection manual. In: Kirkman, S.P. (ed.) Final Report of the BCLME (Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem) Project on Top Predators as Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Change in the BCLME. Avian Demography Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
• Kemper, J. and Crawford, R.J.M 2007. Report on the availability and quality of seabird information in Namibia and South Africa. In: Kirkman, S.P. (ed.) Final Report of the BCLME (Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem) Project on Top Predators as Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Change in the BCLME. Avian Demography Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
• Kemper, J., Roux, J-Pl, Bartlett, P.A., Chesselet, Y.J., Delport, J.A., James, J.A.C., Jones, R., Underhill, L.G., Uhongora, N-N. and Wepener, S. 2007. The African Penguin Spheniscus demersus: population estimates, trends, adult survival and age structure from molt and nest counts. In: Kirkman, S.P. (ed.) Final Report of the BCLME (Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem) Project on Top Predators as Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Change in the BCLME. Avian Demography Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
• Kemper, J. 2007. Estimating African Penguin population size: a comparison of census techniques. In: Kirkman, S.P. (ed.) Final Report of the BCLME (Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem) Project on Top Predators as Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Change in the BCLME. Avian Demography Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
• Kemper, J., Underhill, L.G., Roux, J-P., Bartlett, P.A., Chesselet, Y.J., James, J.A.C., Jones, R., Uhongora, N-N. and Wepener, S. 2007. Breeding patterns and factors influencing breeding success of African Penguins Spheniscus demersus in Namibia. In: Kirkman, S.P. (ed.) Final Report of the BCLME (Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem) Project on Top Predators as Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Change in the BCLME. Avian Demography Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
• Kemper, J., Underhill, L.G. and Roux, J-P. 2007. Artificial burrows for African penguins on Halifax Island, Namibia: do they improve breeding success? In: Kirkman, S.P. (ed.) Final Report of the BCLME (Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem) Project on Top Predators as Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Change in the BCLME. Avian Demography Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
• Kemper, J. 2007. Population estimates and trends of seabird species breeding in Namibia. In: Kirkman, S.P. (ed.) Final Report of the BCLME (Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem) Project on Top Predators as Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Change in the BCLME. Avian Demography Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
• Kemper, J., Underhill, L.G., Crawford, R.J.M. and Kirkman, S.P. 2007. Revision of the conservation status of seabirds and seals breeding in the Benguela Ecosystem. In: Kirkman, S.P. (ed.) Final Report of the BCLME (Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem) Project on Top Predators as Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Change in the BCLME. Avian Demography Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
• Kemper, J. 2007. Monitoring seabirds in the BCLME: monitoring objectives, priorities and recommendations. In: Kirkman, S.P. (ed.) Final Report of the BCLME (Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem) Project on Top Predators as Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Change in the BCLME. Avian Demography Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
• Crawford, R.J.M. and Kemper, J. 2006. Spheniscus demersus African Penguin. In: Ellis, S. et al. (eds). Penguin conservation assessment and management plan. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group. Apple Valley, USA.
• Du Toit, M., Boere, G.C., Cooper, J., de Villiers, M.S., Kemper, J., Lenten, B., Petersen, S.L., Simmons, R.E., Whittington, P.A. and Byers, O.P. (eds). 2002. Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for Southern African Seabirds. Cape Town: Avian Demography Unit & Apple Valley: Conservation Breeding Specialist Group.
• Cowling, R.M., Stock, W.D., Pierce, S.M. and Kemper, J. 1998. Assessment of African Penguin Spheniscus demersus damage to the vegetation of Boulders Coastal Park. Unpublished report. University of Cape Town, Cape Town.

3. Popular articles

• Kemper, J. 2008. Help save our seabirds – a plea to all Luderitzbuchters. Buchter News 215: 9.
• Kemper, J. 2004. Racing Pumpkin, a homing African Penguin. Bird Numbers 13(2): 24-25.
• Kemper, J. 2003. Raising Chicken. Roan News (March).
• Kemper, J. 2000. Looking after our penguins. Buchter News 136: 4.
• Kemper, J. 2001. ”Bintown” – an attempt at improving penguin breeding success on Halifax Island. Roan News (October).
• Kemper, J. 2001. African Penguins and rubbish bins: population dynamics and conservation in Namibia. Bird Numbers 10(2): 25-26.
• Kemper, J. and Roux,J.P. 2000. Impact of nesting habitat quality on population trends in the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) in Namibia. Roan News (August) 3-7.